Sheet feeding mechanism



Jan. 26, 1943 o. KLEINSCHMIT an, 2,309,600

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l gwuwwlklqOSKAR KLEINSQHMIT OSKAR M UEL-LER 1943 o. KLEINSCHMIT ETAL 2,309,600

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1941 4 Shets-Sheet 2 OSKARKLJEINSOHMIT OSKAR 'MUELLIEH Jan. 26, 1943 o. KLEINSCHMIT arm. 2,309,600

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 19. 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 O-SKARKusmscumn 4 OSKAR MUELLER Jan. 26, 1943' o. KLEINSCHMIT ETAL 2,309,600

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 19. 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gin0014433 OSKAR KbE'INSGHMIT OSKAR MUELLER M W W4 Patented 'J. 26, 1943SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Oskar Kleinschmit and Oskar Mueller, mm-Plagwits, Germany; vested in the Alien Property Custodian ApplicationApril 19, 1941, Serial No. 389,452 Germany November 14, 1939 21 Claims.(CL 270-54) The invention relates to block stitching machines with alaterally arranged sheet feed mechanism from which the sheets are fed tothe saddle of the machine upon which they are carried to stitchingposition.

It is known to deposit a sheet on to stationary or travelling feedingmeans, such as for instance a feeding chain or the like arranged closeto the ordinary stitching saddle as a lateral elongation thereof when inits lower sheet receiving position. From the feed mechanism the sheet ispushed with increasing speed on to the stitching saddle by a pushermember against a sheet stop, where it is registered and held by suitablemeans (see U. 8. Patents 2,076,996 and 1,774,170).

The long stroke of this pusher member and its return movement to itsinitial position require a considerable movement or putting into actionof masses, thus affecting the output of the machine.

Furthermore the linear feeding of sheets and their correct positioningon the saddle is not assured.

Feeding rolls are also known for use instead of pusher members. Theserolls are arranged in pairs consisting of upper and lower rolls whichare actuated by driving segments at a varying speed, which howeverremains steady in between the 2 rolls of the pair. The upper one of suchpair of rolls is lifted and lowered corresponding to the swinging in andout of the stitching saddle. In the opened stage in which the upper rollis lifted the sheet is pushed between these rolls. On closing, the rollshave a speed corresponding to the speed of the fed sheets and rapidlyincreases, so that by the time of opening of the rolls the sheet has thespeed necessary to throw it against the sheet stop on the stitchingsaddle (see German Patent No. 644,071 or the corresponding BritishPatent No. 462,449). Also in this instance considerable masses are putinto action by reason of the segment construction, while, in .theinterest of an increased output, it would be of advantage to avoid this.

Also the feeding of sheets by means of a feeding chain having roof-likemembers onto which the sheets are deposited straddlewise, never isabsolutely rectilinear, but always subject to certain irregularities.These irregularities are imparted to the sheets riding in straddlewisefashion along the roofs of the chain members, so that the feeding rollsare apt to engage the sheet not exactly in the apex of the fold edge,and feed it improperly, when it arrives in badly registered condition.Furthermore the driving plicated and heavy, and it may occur that itsswinging masses damage thin sheets or soft papers on engagement. Thetravelling feeding of sheets by means of a continuously feeding chainoffers, however, such great advantages that hitherto the disadvantage ofthe aforedescribed irregularities was endured, even if the speed of themachine had to be reduced on account thereof.

Besides this in the hitherto known constructions the opening and closingmovements of the feeding rolls took place in a vertical planeperpendicular to the feeding direction. In other words the axis of theupper roll was tilted causing the upper roll to move out of the planecontaining the lower roll. Thus when working on thicker signatures ithappened that the upper roll in being lowered did not quite register inthe plane of the lower roll so that the rolls lost their properalinement.

The present invention overcomes all these disadvantages and makesprovision that the sheets in spite of the unsteady chain feed are fed inabsolutely rectinlinear registration. This is accomplished by replacingthe chain roofs by a stationary feeding bar, secured in a suitablemanner above the ordinary chain members, thus forming the stationaryfeeding saddle, from which the well known carrier pins push the sheet toa position between the feeding rolls. Furthermore the possibility of.the sheets being pressed in incorrect position in between the pair ofrolls is overcome by the following provision:

The pair of rolls is opened by lifting of the upper roll without movingit out of the plane containing the lower roll. Thus the upper roll iskept in the plane of feeding, and the swinging masses of the rolls areconsiderably reduced, as the latter are continuously driven, i. e.,travelling in one direction only. Thus only the upper roll and itsswinging bearing ,holder have to be taken into consideration as swingingmasses. The result obtained thereby resides in an entirely linearfeeding, an increased output of machine and a complete avoiding of wastepaper, even in case of badly packed sheets.

It is further of decided advantage that the drive for the feeding rollscan be accomplished directly by a motor the rotary speed of which caneasily be regulated and adapted to the varying qualities of work to behandled. Thus the drive is much more simple compared with constructionswherein it is performed by the stitching machine itself. Instead of theseparate mechanism for such feeding rolls is rather commotor drive thedrive of the feeding rolls might be derived from the driving pulley ofthe machine. To make the speed of the feeding rolls independent of themachine speed, a friction gear wheel mechanism is provided. Thepossibility to regulate the drive of the feeding rolls independently ofthe drive of the machine oifers the advantage that the force imparted tothe sheet by the feeding rolls can be adapted to the quality of paperhandled, so that the sheets are in any case brought into accuratecontact with the registering stop on the stitching saddle. The mainadvantage of the separate motor drive resides, however, in the fact,that the revolution of the feed rolls is no longer dependent uponintended or unintended irregularities in the machine speed, which canbadly influence the propelling force of these rolls in regard to aproper feeding of sheets.

The features of the aforedescribed invention are shown by way of examplein the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of a book stitching machine,

Fig. 2 is a lateral section taken on line I-I of Fig. 1 the stitchingsaddle being in open posi-- tion.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the drivlngmechanism of the feeding rollstaken in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the feedin mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 3through the oscillating bearing of the upper feeding roll.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the feed-. ing chain taken online III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a front view of a modified form of feeding mechanism accordingto the invention.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view through the feeding saddle takenon line IV-IV of Fig. 7.

As shown in the drawings the book stitching machine I has areciprocating feeding saddle 2, close to which, in elongation to itsfeeding position, an arm 4 (Fig. 1) is mounted on frame 3 and carriesthe feeding mechanism, which in this instance is an ordinary chain 5.The feeding mechanism is positioned so that it aligns with the saddle 2in the sheet receiving position .of the latter. Some of the chainmembers are equipped with carrier pins 6 to forward the sheet 8. Abovethe feeding chain a stationary narrow bar 1 is positioned and secured toarm 4. The sheets are deposited straddlewise either manually orautomatically on said bar I. This stationary bar 1 with a roofiike upperedge offers the sheets deposited thereon a reliable and absolutelyrectilinear feeding corresponding to the rooflike edge of the lowerfeeding roll 9.

The upper feeding roll I positioned adjacent the frame and provided witha groove ii (Fig. for receiving the roof-like edge of the lower feedingroll 9 (Fig. 1-3) is lifted by means of its holder or lever l4 inthe'feeding plane about the shaft l2 of lever l4, rocking in the bearingi3 (Fig. 2-5). The rocking movement of lever I4 is effected by cam l5through a link [5a pivotally mounted at its upper end on a projection oflever Id. The shaft i2 and the shaft of roll ill are connected byintermeshed gear wheels 22 and 23 respectively, gear wheel 22 beingfixedly mounted on shaft l2 and gear wheel 23 being fixedly connected tothe shaft of roll N (Fig. 5). In driving the rolls rotary motion istransferred from motor i6 (Fig. 1-4) by means of pulley I! to thecorresponding pulley 18 of the intermediate shaft i9.

The shaft I9 carries pulleys 19a. and Ilb which are connected by beltsto pulleys 20 and 2| respectively which in turn drive rolls i9 and 9respectively.

The narrow stationary bar 1, sharpened at its upper edge to provide theroof like edge and positioned in alinement with rollers 9 and I9,ensures an absolutely rectilinear feeding of sheet 8 in its fold whichcorresponds to the apex of saddle 2. In this correct position the sheetis held tightly on the saddle until the same has reached the stitchingposition, i. e., until it arrives under the stitching needles, so that adisplacement or rolling of the sheet can no longer occur. I I t 1Instead of the chain 5 the stationary rail or bar I could also co-actwith a reciprocatory stop 25 adjustable according to the size of thepaper handled, the stroke of which needs not be greater than to allowthe sheet to be forwarded from the feeding station at which it is placedon the bar I to a position between the rolls 9 and I.

This construction requires less room than the chain mechanism, and isdiagrammatically shown in Fig. '7. Also in this instance bar I ismounted on the stationary arm 4. On or below this bar there is areciprocatory adjustable stop 25, the stroke of which is adapted to pusha sheet deposited on bar 1 from the feeding station to a positionbetween rolls 9 and [0. Also here the exact alinement of feeding bar 1,pressure rolls 9 and Ill and apex of saddle 2 is of decisive importanceand forms the novel feature responsible for a smooth and non-stopworking of the machine, only achieved by means of the novel co-operationof the aforedescribed elements.

The working of the machine is obvious without difflculties. The narrowbar I with its rooflike feeding edge which properly fits into the foldof the sheets deposited thereon provides for a proper feeding of sheetsand a linear guidance of the fold edge. As the peripheral edge of thelower roll lies exactly in elongation of the apex of this bar 1, thesheet is also maintained in its fold line during the further stages ofthe feeding operation by the rolls. Furthermore the upper roller exactlyfits onto the lower one, its lifting and lowering movement taking placein the feeding plane of sheets, and thus none of the respectivestationary or travelling guiding parts will displace the sheet,traveling therebetween, out of its exactly linear direction andpositionnot even when the sheet is transferred from feeding mechanism tothe stitching saddle 2 of stitching machine, positioned in alinementwith the aforedescribed feeding means. The sheet will remain in thiscorrect position during the swinging in movement of the stitching saddleinto the stitching position until it is finally pierced by the piercingneedles.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present inventionprovides a feeding mechanism including a pair of disc-like feeding rollshaving cooperating roof like and V-grooved peripheral portions with theapex portions of the cooperating surfaces of the two rolls lying alwaysin the same plane, both when the rolls are in feeding position and whenthey are separated to permit feeding of a sheet between them.

We claim:

1. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a thin elongated sheet supporting element lying in a verticalplane and mounted to register in alignment with the saddle when thelatter is in its sheet receiving position, and means for displacing afolded sheet from said element longitudinally of the elementand with itsfold in accurate register with the upper edge of the element, onto saidsaddle.

2. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a thin elongated sheet supporting element lying in a verticalplane and mounted to register in alignment with the saddle when thelatter is in its sheet receiving position, the upper edge of saidelement being of roof shape and the apex thereof being in register withthe apex of the saddle when the latter is in its sheet receivingposition, and means for displacing a folded sheet from said elementlongitudinally of the element onto said saddle with the fold of thesheet in accurate register with the apex of the element.

3. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar lying in a vertical plane andhaving its upper edge of roof shape-to receive folded sheetsstraddlewise with the sheet fold in register with the apex line of theupper edge of the bar, said apex line of the upper edge of the bar beingin alignment with the apex-line of the saddle when the latter is in itssheet receiving position, and means for displacing a sheet from said barlongitudinally of the bar onto said saddle with the fold of the sheet inaccurate register with the apex of the element.

4. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar lying in a vertical plane andhaving its upper edge of roof shape to receive folded sheetsstraddlewise with the sheet fold in register with the apex line of theupper edge of the bar, said apex line of the upper edge of the bar beingin alignment with the apex line of the saddle when the latter is in itssheet receiving position, a traveling endless flexible member having astretch parallel to and adjacent the apex line of the bar,

sheet engaging means carried by said flexible member for displacing asheet along said bar longitudinally of the bar, and means for displacinga sheet from said bar longitudinally of the bar onto said saddle withthe fold of the sheet in accurate register with the apex of the element.

5. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitch-- ing machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar lying in a vertical plane andhaving its upper edge of roof shape to receive folded sheetsstraddlewise with the sheet fold in register with the apex line of theupper edge of the bar, said apex line of the upper edge of the bar beingin alignment with the apex line of the saddle 7t when the latter is inits sheet receiving position, means including a reciprocating sheetengaging member displaceable adjacent and parallel to the apex line ofsaid bar for advancing sheets along said bar, means including areciprocating sheet engaging member above the upper edge of the saddle,and means to maintain the synchronism between this sheet engaging memberand the stitching saddle, for bringing a sheet in accurate alignmentfrom said bar longitudinally thereof onto said saddle.

6. A sheeti'eed device for use in a book-stitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle whichv is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar lying in a vertical plane andhaving its upper edge of roof shape to receive folded sheetsstraddlewise with the sheet fold in absolute register with the apex lineof the upper edge of the bar, said apex line of the upper edge 01' thebar being in alignment with the apex line of the saddle when the latteris in its sheet receiving position, sheet engaging roll means to forwarda sheet from said bar longitudinally of the bar onto said saddle, andmeans for moving a sheet from the sheet receiving portion of said barinto a position to be engaged by the roll means, and means for actuatingthe roll means in synchronism' with the alternate movement of thestitching saddle from the sheet receiving to the stitching position. I7. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary lat erally thin bar having its upper edge ofroof shape to receive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold inregister withthe apex line of the upper edge of the bar, said apex lineof the upper edge of the bar being in alignment with the apex line ofthe saddle when the latter is in its sheet receiving position, sheetengaging roll means for displacing a sheet from said bar longitudinallyof the bar onto said saddle including a lower roll having a v-shapedradially outwardly projecting portion and an upper roll having aV-shaped groove in its periphery to receive the corresponding outwardlyprojecting portion of the lower roll the lower roll being mounted forrotation about a fixed axis and so that the apex line of the bar istangential to the outer periphery thereof, and means for lifting theupper roll from engagement with the point of tangency of said apex linewith the lower roll while maintaining its axis of rotation parallel tothe axis of rotation of the lower roll.

8. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge, ofroof shape to receive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet foldinregister with the apex line of the upper edge of the bar, said apexline of the upper edge of the bar being in alignment with the apex lineof the saddle when the latter is in its sheet receiving position, sheetengaging roll means for displacing a sheet from said bar longitudinallyofthe bar onto said saddle including a lower roll having a V-shapedradially outwardly projecting portion and an upper roll having a V-shaped groove in its periphery to receive the. corresponding outwardlyprojecting portion of the lower roll, the lower roll being mounted forrotation about a fixed axis and so that the apex line of the bar istangential to the outer periphery thereof, means for lifting the upperroll from engagement with the point of tangency of said apex line withthe lower roll while maintaining its axis of rotation parallel to theaxis of rotation of the lower roll, and means for displacing a sheetfrom the sheet receiving portion of said bar into a-position to beengaged by the roll means.

9. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge of roofshape to receive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold inregister with the apex line of the upper edge of the bar, said apex lineof the upper edge of the bar being in alignment with the apex line ofthe saddle when the latter is in its sheet receiving position, sheetengaging roll means for displacing a sheet from said bar longitudinallyof the bar onto said saddle including a lower roll having a V-shapedradially outwardly projecting portion and an upper roll having aV-shaped groove in its periphery to receive the corresponding outwardlyprojecting portion of the lower roll the lower roll being mounted forrotation about a fixed axis and so that the apex line of the bar istangential to the outer periphery thereof, a lever pivotally mounted onan axis parallel to the axis of the lower roll and spaced therefromlongitudinally of the bar, and the upper roll being carried by saidlever for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the lower roll,and means for swinging said lever about its pivot to raise and lower theupper roll.

10. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet 1'81 ceiving position,comprising a stationary lat.-,

' erally thin bar having its upper edge of roof shape to receive foldedsheets straddlewise with the sheet fold in register with apex line ofthe upper edge of the bar, said apex line of the upper edge of the barbeing in alignment with the apex line of the saddle when the latter isin its sheet receiving position, sheet engaging roll means fordisplacing a sheet from said bar longitudinally of the bar onto saidsaddle, means {or displacing a sheet from the sheet receiving portion ofsaid bar into a position to be engaged by the roll means, and meansindependent of the stitching machine drive for rotating said roll means.

11. A sheet feed device for use in a bookstitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge of roofshape to receive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold inregister with the apex line of the upper edge of the bar, said apex lineof the upper edge of the bar being in alignment with the apex line ofthe saddle when the latter is in its sheet receiving position, a lowerroll mounted for rotation about afixed axis, a level pivotally mountedabout a fixed axis parallel to that of the lower roll and spacedtherefrom longitudinally of the bar, an upper roll carried by the leverfor rotation about a movable axis always parallel to said fixed axes,and means for lilting said upper roll and its lever to enable a sheet toenter between the peripheral portions of said upper and lower rollers.

12. A sheet feed device for use in a bookstitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge of roofshape to receive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold inregister with the apex line of the upper edge of the her, said apex lineof the upper edge of the bar being in alignment with the apex line ofthe saddle when the latter is in its sheet receiving position, a lowerroll mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, an upper rotatable roll,and means for raising and lowering the upper roll while maintaining theupper roll in a plane containing the lower roll.

13. A sheet feed device for use in a bookstitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge of roofshape to receive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold inregister with the apex line 'of the upper edge of the bar, said apexline of the upper edge of the bar being in alignment with the apex lineof the saddle when the latter is in its sheet receiving position, sheetengaging roll means for displacing a sheet from said bar longitudinallyof the bar onto said saddle including a lower roll having a V-shapedradially outwardly projecting portion and an upper roll having aV-shaped groove in its periphery to receive the corresponding outwardlyprojecting portion of the lower roll the lower roll being mounted forrotation about a fixed axis and so that the apex line of the bar istangential to the outer periphery thereof, and means for lifting theupper roll from engagement with the point of tangency of said apex linewith the lower roll while maintaining the apex circle of the groove ofthe upper roll in the same plane containing the apex circle of the lowerroll on the apex line of the bar.

14. A sheet feed device for use in a bookstitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge of roofshape to receive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold inregister with the apex line of the upper edge of the bar, said apex lineof the upper edge of the bar being in alignment with the apex line ofthe saddle when the latter is in its sheet receiving position, a lowerroll mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, a lever pivotally mountedabout a fixed axis parallel to that of the lower roll and spacedtherefrom longitudinally of the bar, an upper roll carried by the leverfor rotation about a movable axis always parallel to said fixed axes,means for lifting said upper roll and its lever to enable a sheet toenter between the peripheral portions of said upper and lower rollers,and means rototably mounted coaxially of the pivoting axis of the leverfor driving the upper roll.

15. A sheet feed device for use in a bookstitohing machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position, astationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge of roof shape toreceive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold in register withthe apex line of the upper edge of the bar, said apex line of the upperedge of the bar being in alignment with the apex line of the saddle whenthe latter is in its sheet receiving position, a lower roll mounted forrotation about a fixed axis, a lever pivotally mounted about a fixedaxis parallel to that of the lower roll and spaced therefromlongitudinally of the bar, an upp r r011 carried by the lever forrotation about a movable axis always parallel to said fixed axes, meansfor lifting said upper roll-and its lever to enable a sheet to enterbetween the peripheral portions of said upper and lower rollers, a gearwheel fixed to the upper roll and rotatable coaxially therewith, asecond gear wheel meshing with the aforesaid gear wheel and mounted forrotation coaxially of the axis about which the lever pivots, and meansfor rotating said second gear wheel to in turn rotate said upper roll.

16. A sheet feed device for use in a bookstitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position, astationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge of roof shape toreceive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold in register withthe apex line of the upper edge of the bar, said apex line of the upperedge of the bar being in alignment with the apex line of the saddle whenthe latter is in its sheet receiving position, sheet engaging roll meansfor displacing a sheet from said bar longitudinally of the bar onto saidsaddle including a lower r011 having a V-shaped radially outwardlyprojecting portion and an upper roll having a v-shaped groove in itsperiphery to receive the corresponding outwardly projecting portion ofthe lower roll the lower roll being mounted for rotation about a fixedaxis and so that the apex line of the bar is tangential to the outerperiphery thereof, a lever pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to theaxis of the lower roll and spaced therefrom parallel to the axis of thelower roll, means for swinging said lever about its pivot to raise andlower the upper roll, a gear wheel fixed to the upper roll and rotatablecoaxially therewith, a second gear wheel meshing with the aforesaid gearwheel and mounted for rotation coaxially of the axis about which thelever pivots, and means for rotating said second gear wheel to in turnrotate said upper roll.

17. A sheet feed device for use in a bookstitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge of roofshape to receive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold inregister with the apex line of the upper edge of the bar, said apex lineof the a longitudinally of the bar, and the upper roll being I carriedby said lever for rotation about an axis upper edge of the bar being inalignment with the apex line of the saddle when the latter is in itssheet receiving position, a lower roll mounted for rotation about afixed axis, a'lever pivotally mounted about a fixed axis parallel tothat of the lower roll and spaced therefrom longitudinally of the bar,an'upper roll carried by the lever for rotation about a movable axisalways paralle1 to said fixed axes, means for lifting said upper rolland its lever to enable a sheet to enter between the peripheral portionsof said upper and lower rollers, a gear wheel fixed to the upper rolland rotatable coaxially therewith, a second gear wheel meshing with theaforesaid gear wheel and mounted for rotation coaxially of the axisabout which the lever pivots, a driving element rotatable coaxially withsaid second gear wheel, a driving element rotatable coaxially with thelower roll, and means common to both of said driving elements forimporting rotary movement thereto.

18. A sheet feed device for use in a bookstitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge of roofshape to receive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold inregister with the apex line of the upper edge of the bar, said apex lineof the upper edge of the bar being in alignment with the apex line ofthe saddle when the latter is in its sheet receiving position, a lowerroll mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, a lever pivotally mountedabout a fixed axis parallel to that of the lower roll and spacedtherefrom longitudinally of the bar, an upper roll carried by the leverfor rotation about a movable axis always parallel to said fixed axes,means for lifting said upper roll and its lever to enable a sheet toenter between the peripheral portions of said upper and lower rollers, agear wheel fixed to the'upper roll and rotatable coaxially therewith, asecond gear wheel meshing with the aforesaid gear wheel and mounted forrotation coaxially of the axis about which the lever pivots, a drivingelement rotatable coaxially with said second gear wheel, a drivingelement rotatable coaxially with the lower roll, and means independentof the stitching machine drive and common to both of said drivingelements for importing rotary movement thereto.

19. A sheet feed device for use in a bookstitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a thin elongated sheet supporting element lying in a verticalplane and mounted to register in alignment with the saddle when thelatter is in its sheet receiving position, means engaging the sheet onboth sides of the sheet supporting element for advancing the sheet alongsaid element without disturbing the register of the'sheet with theelement, and means for displacing a folded sheet from said elementlongitudinally of the element and with its fold in accurate registerwith the upper edge of the element, onto said saddle.

20. A sheet feed device for use in a bookstitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge of roofshape to receive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold inregister with the apex line of the upper edge of the bar, said apex lineof the upper edge of the bar being in alignment with the apex line ofthe saddle when the latter is in its sheet receiving position, meansengaging the sheet on both sides of the sheet supporting element foradvancing the sheet along said element without disturbing the registerof the sheet with the element, and means for displacing a sheet fromsaid bar longitudinally of the bar onto said saddle with the fold of thesheet in accurate register with the apex of the element.

21. A sheet feed device for use in a bookstitching machine having apivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assumealternately a stitching position and a sheet receiving position,comprising a stationary laterally thin bar having its upper edge of rootshape to receive folded sheets straddlewise with the sheet fold inregister with the apex line of the upper edge of the bar, said apex lineof the upper edge of the bar being in alignment with the apex line ofthe saddle when the latter is in its sheet receiving position, meansengaging the sheet on both sides of the sheet supporting element foradvancing the sheet along said element without disturbing the registerof the sheet with the element, sheet engaging roll means for displacinga sheet from said bar longitudinally of the bar onto said saddleincluding a lower roll having a v-shaped radially outwardly projectingportion and an upper roll having a V-shaped groove in its periphery toreceive the corresponding outwardly projecting portion of the lower rollthe lower roll being mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and so thatthe apex line or the bar is tangential to the outer periphery thereof,and means for lifting the upper roll from engagement with the point oftangency of said apex line with the lower roll while maintaining itsaxis of rotaticin parallel to the axis of rotation of the lower 1'0 1.

OSKAR KLEINSCHMIT. OSKAR MUELLER

